A $500,000 gift from the Burns & McDonnell Foundation will help the University of Kansas School of Engineering increase the number of engineering graduates.

The gift to KU Endowment advances the School of Engineering’s Building on Excellence Initiative. The strategic effort is designed to dramatically increase the number of engineering graduates to help meet industry demand. The initiative provides resources to enhance student recruitment and retention, adds faculty, increases classroom and laboratory space, and expands opportunities for experiential student learning.

Greg Graves, CEO of Burns & McDonnell and director of the company’s foundation, said he was pleased that the foundation could provide this support.

“Dean Stuart Bell and the faculty have built a terrific team at KU’s School of Engineering,” said Graves. “But even more important, firms like ours asked the state of Kansas to step up last year to help get this building program started. Governor Brownback and the Kansas legislature came through big time. Now it’s time for those same firms to step up. I’m thrilled that we can.”

Stuart Bell, dean of KU’s School of Engineering, expressed appreciation for the generous gift.

“Burns & McDonnell has been a great supporter in the region and it’s wonderful that the company and foundation are again stepping forward, this time as champions of engineering education at KU,” said Bell. “This gift will help increase the number of engineers in Kansas and the region and invigorate the state and Kansas City area’s economy. We deeply appreciate this support from Burns & McDonnell.”

The gift, and other recent contributions from Burns & McDonnell corporation and foundation, count toward Far Above: The Campaign for Kansas, a comprehensive fundraising campaign scheduled for a public kickoff on April 28.

Burns & McDonnell provides engineering, architecture, construction, environmental and consulting services to clients throughout North America and abroad. Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is 100 percent employee-owned. The Burns & McDonnell Foundation is a key component of the firm’s longstanding commitment to improve the quality of life through educational outreach supporting careers in engineering and technology; human services to combat societal issues ranging from poverty and homelessness to domestic violence and hunger; environmentally responsible practices; and support for the arts and cultural enrichment. In addition Burns & McDonnell encourages and supports volunteer efforts by employee-owners in support of projects and causes that support communities where employees live and work.

KU Endowment is the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment was the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.